Economic and Monetary Union

James Duddridge: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland pursuant to the answer to the right hon. Member for Horsham of 9 July 2008,  Official Report, column 1646W, on economic and monetary union, what the type of information in the changeover plan that prohibits publication is; and if he will redact that information and place an edited version in the Library.

Shaun Woodward: The Northern Ireland Office is unable to provide details of the Euro Changeover Plan as it contains the names and addresses of the Euro Co-ordinators as well as details of registered companies and computer packages which are to be used.

Powers of Entry

James Duddridge: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland which  (a) primary and  (b) secondary legislation sponsored by his Department has (i) amended and (ii) enhanced existing powers of entry since May 1997.

Shaun Woodward: Since May 1997, my Department has taken forward nine primary enactments and one statutory instrument which have either introduced new, or amended existing, powers of entry in Northern Ireland. The relevant legislation is shown in the following lists.
	 Primary legislation introduced since May 1997 amending existing entry powers or containing new entry powers
	Northern Ireland (Location of Victims' Remains) Act 1999;
	Justice (NT) Act 2004;
	Criminal Justice (NT) Order 2004;
	Firearms (Northern Ireland) Order 2004;
	Northern Ireland (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2006;
	Justice and Security (Northern Ireland) Act 2007;
	Police and Criminal Evidence (Amendment) (NT) Order 2007;
	Policing (Miscellaneous Provisions) (NI) Order 2007;
	Criminal Justice (NI) Order 2008.
	 Statutory instruments conferring one or more powers of entry coming into force since May 1997
	Police Act 1997 (Criminal Records) (Registration) Regulations (NT) 2007
	The answer covers Acts, Orders in Council and statutory instruments on reserved and excepted matters. Northern Ireland Statutory Rules and legislation in the transferred field taken forward prior to the establishment and during the suspension of the Assembly have not been covered on the grounds that to do so would involve disproportionate cost.

Governance of Britain

Eleanor Laing: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  how many  (a) Ministers,  (b) officials from his Department,  (c) representatives of local authorities,  (d) invited members of the public and  (e) non-invited members of the public attended the Governance of Britain event in Brighton on 17th July;
	(2)  how many  (a) Ministers,  (b) officials from his Department,  (c) representatives of local authorities,  (d) invited members of the public and  (e) non-invited members of the public attended the Governance of Britain event in London on 22nd July;
	(3)  how many  (a) Ministers from his Department,  (b) officials from his Department,  (c) representatives of local authorities,  (d) invited members of the public and  (e) other members of the public attended the Governance of Britain event in (i) Nottingham on 9th July 2008 and (ii) Newcastle on 14th July 2008;
	(4)  how many  (a) Ministers from his Department,  (b) officials from his Department,  (c) representatives of local authorities,  (d) invited members of the public and  (e) other members of the public attended the Governance of Britain event in Bristol on 30th June.

Michael Wills: The "governance of Britain" 'townhall' events were designed to engage those who are already active in their local communities in the Government's constitutional renewal agenda with an aim of encouraging them to take the debate put to their community groups and organisations.
	All those who attended the event were invited to do so.
	A breakdown of information requested for each event is shown in the following table.
	
		
			   Brighton  London  Bristol  Nottingham  Newcastle 
			  (a) Michael Wills Michael Wills Michael Wills Michael Wills Michael Wills 
			  (b) 5 5 5 5 5 
			  (c) 2 2 11 10 7 
			  (d) 25 27 25 27 16

Governance of Britain

Eleanor Laing: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  what the cost was of the Governance of Britain consultation event held in Brighton on 17th July;
	(2)  what the cost was of the Governance of Britain consultation event held in London on 22nd July;
	(3)  what the cost was of the Governance of Britain consultation event held in Newcastle on 14th July;
	(4)  what expenditure his Department incurred in holding the Governance of Britain consultation event in Nottingham on 9th July;
	(5)  what expenditure his Department incurred in holding the Governance of Britain consultation event in Bristol on 30th June.

Michael Wills: The total cost of the governance of Britain events as requested are as follows:
	
		
			  Venue  Date  Cost of event (£) 
			 Brighton 17 July 593.83 
			 London 22 July 1,538.09 
			 Newcastle 14 July 686.50 
			 Nottingham 9 July 676.00 
			 Bristol 30 June 435.00 
			  Note: All costs were inclusive of value added tax.

Child Benefit: Telephone Services

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many and what proportion of calls to the Child Benefit Helpline were  (a) answered by a representative,  (b) received an automated message,  (c) logged with the promise of a call-back and  (d) responded to in another manner in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: holding answer 10 September 2008
	I have been asked to reply.
	The table below provides the details of the information requested where it is available. In answer to part  (b) all calls received by the Child Benefit Helpline receive an automated message of some kind. It is not possible to calculate the relative proportions of the different groups with the information available.
	
		
			  Child Benefit  2003 - 04  2004 - 05  2005 - 06  2006 - 07  2007 - 08 
			 (b) Calls received(1) n/a 5,041,079 3,687,025 4,026,335 4,806,978 
			 (a) Calls Handled(2) n/a 3,360,272 3,091,750 3,483,386 4,336,202 
			 (c) n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 (d) n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 (1) Calls received: where the caller selected an option from the call steering menu and was put in a queue to speak to an adviser. (2) Calls handled: where the caller spoke to an adviser

Housing Benefits

Andrew Love: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what spending was on housing benefit and related benefits in each of the last 20 years, broken down by  (a) type of tenancy and  (b) category of housing provision.

James Purnell: The available information is in the following tables.
	
		
			  Housing benefit expenditure by tenure and provision. Great Britain 
			  Nominal out - turn :  £ million 
			   Rent rebate  Rent allowance   
			   Local authority  Registered social landlords  Private rented sector  Total rent allowance  Minor housing benefits  Total housing benefit 
			 1987-88 2,506 n/a n/a 1,030 0 3,536 
			 1988-89 2,653 n/a n/a 1,071 34 3,757 
			 1989-90 2,867 n/a n/a 1,365 26 4,258 
			 1990-91 3,329 n/a n/a 1,767 11 5,106 
			 1991-92 3,945 n/a n/a 2,413 4 6,363 
			 1992-93 4,566 676 2,570 3,246 2 7,814 
			 1993-94 5,028 974 3,214 4,189 1 9,218 
			 1994-95 5,228 1,309 3,567 4,875 1 10,104 
			 1995-96 5,430 1,640 3,804 5,445 2 10,876 
			 1996-97 5,569 1,991 3,820 5,810 0 11,380 
			 1997-98 5,498 2,242 3,437 5,679 0 11,177 
			 1998-99 5,405 2,480 3,180 5,660 1 11,065 
			 1999-2000 5,345 2,753 2,966 5,719 0 11,064 
			 2000-01 5,258 3,053 2,851 5,904 0 11,162 
			 2001-02 5,282 3,482 2,824 6,306 0 11,589 
			 2002-03 5,405 4,199 3,032 7,231 0 12,637 
			 2003-04 5,027 4,291 3,023 7,314 0 12,342 
			 2004-05 5,200 4,603 3,354 7,957 0 13,158 
			 2005-06 5,263 4,950 3,716 8,666 0 13,928 
			 2006-07 5,368 5,328 4,144 9,472 0 14,840 
		
	
	
		
			  Housing benefit expenditure by tenure and provision. Great Britain 
			  Real terms 2008-09 prices: £ million 
			   Rent rebate  Rent allowance   
			   Local authority  Registered social landlords  Private rented sector  Total rent allowance  Minor housing benefits  Total housing benefit 
			 1987-88 5,128 n/a n/a 2,108 0 7,236 
			 1988-89 5,074 n/a n/a 2,048 65 7,187 
			 1989-90 5,117 n/a n/a 2,437 46 7,600 
			 1990-91 5,508 n/a n/a 2,924 18 8,450 
			 1991-92 6,154 n/a n/a 3,765 7 9,925 
			 1992-93 6,899 1,022 3,883 4,904 3 11,807 
			 1993-94 7,405 1,434 4,734 6,168 2 13,575 
			 1994-95 7,584 1,898 5,174 7,072 1 14,657 
			 1995-96 7,645 2,309 5,356 7,666 2 15,313 
			 1996-97 7,586 2,711 5,202 7,914 0 15,499 
			 1997-98 7,275 2,967 4,548 7,515 0 14,790 
			 1998-99 6,976 3,201 4,104 7,305 1 14,281 
			 1999-2000 6,762 3,483 3,753 7,236 0 13,997 
			 2000-01 6,559 3,808 3,556 7,364 0 13,923 
			 2001-02 6,435 4,242 3,440 7,682 0 14,117 
			 2002-03 6,385 4,960 3,581 8,541 0 14,926 
			 2003-04 5,771 4,926 3,470 8,396 0 14,167 
			 2004-05 5,809 5,142 3,747 8,889 0 14,698 
			 2005-06 5,757 5,415 4,065 9,480 0 15,237 
			 2006-07 5,709 5,666 4,407 10,073 0 15,782 
			  Notes: 1. Information sourced from local authority claims for housing revenue account subsidy and housing benefit subsidy. 2. Figures to 2005-06 are taken from the final audited subsidy claims submitted to the Department by each local authority. 3. Figures for 2006-07 are not yet audited, and represent provisional out-turn for the year. 4. Figures exclude Asylum Seekers from April 1999, since when the National Asylum Support Service has reimbursed DWP for benefits paid to asylum seekers. 5. From 2004-05 rent rebate expenditure responsibility transferred to DWP. 6. Separation of rent allowance into private rental sector and registered social landlord elements is an estimate derived from the quarterly administrative data on caseloads and average awards. This breakdown is only available from 1992-93. 7. Expenditure on minor housing benefits reflects transitional spending following the reform of housing benefit in 1988. it is not possible to identify the tenure of minor housing benefits so these are shown separately. 8. Figures are total amounts paid to beneficiaries, irrespective of the source of funding, and include benefit spending reimbursed by DWP, spending on rent rebates financed within local authorities' housing revenue accounts, and benefit spending financed from local authorities' general funds. 9. Figures reflect the latest benefit-by-benefit estimate of out-turn, and not the amounts voted by Parliament.  10. Figures for 1999-2000 onwards are on a resource accounting and budgeting basis. There may be differences between figures quoted in these tables and those quoted in Department for Work and Pensions accounts. 11. Figures for past years may have changed since previous publication due to changes in methodology and the incorporation of more up-to-date information. 12.Totals may not sum due to rounding. 13. Real terms have been calculated using Gross Domestic Product deflators updated after the 2008 Budget report on 12 March 2008.  Source: DWP expenditure tables

Social Security Benefits: Interviews

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what qualitative evaluation he has made of the customer experience of work-focussed interviews; and if he will make a statement.

James Purnell: holding answer 10 September 2008
	 The Department for Work and Pensions conducts a wide range of research to inform the strategic development and operational delivery of its policies. This includes formal evaluations of employment programmes and pilots, as well as more strategic research on work-related and service delivery issues. Other research considers, more broadly, customer satisfaction with various aspects of Jobcentre Plus provision.
	Work Focused Interviews are one of the main ways through which Jobcentre Plus services are made available to its customers. Large bodies of evaluation evidence exist on Work Focussed Interviews, including qualitative studies of customers' experiences, large scale quantitative surveys of clients' journeys through Jobcentre Plus services and case studies of the delivery of client based services.
	Comprehensive programmes of evaluation have taken place. All research reports are available in the House of Commons Library and are also available on the DWP website.
	A list of relevant recently published research has been placed in the Library.

Dorneywood

James Duddridge: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality pursuant to the answer to the right hon. Member for Horsham of 19 June 2008,  Official Report, column 1187W, on Dorneywood: official hospitality, what use the Government Equalities Office has made of Dorneywood for official engagements since its establishment.

James Purnell: The Government Equalities Office was established on 12 October 2007. Since then, it has not made use of Dorneywood for official engagements.

Political Parties: Finance

Norman Baker: To ask the honourable Member for Gosport, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission what procedures there are for regulated  (a) donees and  (b) donors to appeal against sanctions imposed on them by the Commission.

Peter Viggers: The Electoral Commission informs me that it has no power to impose unilaterally any sanction on regulated donees or donors. Where the Commission establishes that a regulated donee has accepted a donation from an impermissible source, it may apply for a forfeiture order through a magistrates' court.
	Cases of suspected criminal offences committed by donees and donors under the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 (PPERA) are referred by the Commission to the police, or in the case of Scotland, to the Procurator Fiscal, where the Commission believes there is sufficient evidence and it is in the public interest to do so. The appeal procedure in each case is through the judicial system.

Political Parties: Finance

Norman Baker: To ask the honourable Member for Gosport, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission what factors the Electoral Commission takes into account when deciding whether it is in the public interest to refer to the police a case of a regulated donee notifying it late of a political donation; and who in the Commission takes such decisions.

Peter Viggers: The Electoral Commission informs me that it takes a variety of factors into account when deciding whether it is in the public interest to refer such cases to the police. These include the nature and gravity of the offence, the motive, mitigating circumstances, the effect of a prosecution on the accused, the risk of further offences, the availability of a more appropriate civil or other remedy, the powers of the court, and the public concern. Decisions regarding such referrals are taken by the Electoral Commissioners.

Political Parties: Finance

Caroline Spelman: To ask the honourable Member for Gosport, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission with reference to the Electoral Commission's consultation paper on Standardising Statements of Accounts for Parties and Accounting Units, what the evidential basis is for the need for standardisation; what advice the Commission has obtained on the matter from  (a) accountants and  (b) auditors in public practice and from their professional bodies; and what research has been undertaken or commissioned by the Commission on the matter.

Peter Viggers: The Electoral Commission informs me that evidence of the need for greater transparency in the accounts of registered parties and their accounting units has been set out in a number of reports, including the first report of Session 2006-07 of the then Constitutional Affairs Committee of the House of Commons (HC 163-1). Paragraph 39 of that report recommended that:
	"Despite the introduction of a duty to produce accounts under PPERA, a lack of common accounting practices makes it difficult to compile a comprehensive account of the income profiles of the political parties. The Government should ensure that the Electoral Commission produce more digestible, thorough and transparent figures of both the private and public sources of party income."
	The Commission launched its public consultation on the standardisation of statements of accounts in July 2008 and invited the major accountancy bodies to respond to the consultation. The Commission informs me that in April 2008 it engaged an experienced public sector auditor to assist with developing the consultation and an audit strategy, and that a contract for professional accountancy advice and support on producing a guidance manual and delivering a training package for party and accounting unit treasurers is likely to be finalised shortly. The Commission has not undertaken or commissioned other research on this subject.

Powers

John Bercow: To ask the honourable Member for Gosport, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission whether the Electoral Commission has made representations to the Government on proposals for extending its investigative and punitive powers.

Peter Viggers: The Electoral Commission informs me that it made representations supporting more proportionate and flexible penalties and the ability to apply a range of sanctions in 2003, when it published its review, Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act: Recommendations for change, which it submitted to the Government.
	The Commission further informs me that in 2006 it called for wider sanctions during evidence provided to the eleventh enquiry of the Committee on Standards in Public Life.
	In July 2008, the Commission reiterated its support for a widened range of sanctions and investigatory powers in its response to the Government's White Paper Party finance and expenditure in the United Kingdom.
	In the Commission's most recent briefing paper responding to the Political Parties and Elections Bill, it again welcomed and reiterated its strong support for the provisions in the Bill to widen its sanctioning and investigation powers. Copies of this briefing paper have been placed in the House of Commons Library.

Adult Education: Finance

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills for what reasons his Department's funding for Adult Learning Support at Chelmsford college fell by 6.4 per cent. in 2008-09; and if he will make a statement.

David Lammy: holding answer 6 October 2008
	Overall investment in the post-16 further education sector has increased significantly—by 53 per cent. in real terms between 1997 and 2008. Chelmsford college's overall LSC funding has increased by 3.7 per cent. compared with the previous year.
	Following a consultation in January 2007 and subsequent work through LSC advisory groups, changes were made to the way additional learning support was calculated for 2008/09. These changes were introduced to ensure that the funding was better focussed on need rather than purely on an historical basis.
	ALS now has a funding formula that has two levels, low cost and high cost. For learners aged 16-18, low cost claims—that is, those under £5,500—will be allocated using the learners' GCSE English and Maths points profile from the college's previous year's cohort.
	For learners over the age of 19, low level claims are based on the level of qualification being studied.
	To allow for transitional arrangements for ALS, and to minimise the impact on colleges' budgets, 60 per cent. of the low cost ALS has been distributed using the formula approach in 2008/09. The remaining 40 per cent. has been allocated on the basis of the historical proportion of the budget. The intention is to move to 75 per cent. (formula)/ 25 per cent. (allocation) in 2009/10.

Departmental Databases

James Duddridge: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what use  (a) his Department and  (b) its agencies make of (i) MOSAIC data and (ii) ACORN data.

David Lammy: DIUS itself has not made any direct recent use of either MOSAIC or ACORN. The following is a summary of known examples of use and general extent of use in agencies and their contractors. There may be some use where MOSAIC or ACORN are used indirectly by external contractors which we have not been able to identify in collating the information for this reply.
	Some regional Learning and Skills Councils (LSC) use MOSAIC to a limited extent. Contractors working on behalf of LSC may recommend it for projects where the aim is to analyse the population in certain areas, or understand which particular groups are accessing/not accessing learning. For example the LSC South East project uses MOSAIC neighbourhood types to identify and map NEET (Not in Education Training or Employment) hotspots in the South East.
	The Student Loans Company, hires a modelling tool from Experian which relies on some MOSAIC data and which predicts the likelihood to repay of student loans mortgage style accounts.
	ACORN is to be used for the LSC Free Childcare for Training and Learning for Work project (activity to be undertaken November/December 2008)—profiling the population of England against the target audience (struggling families) to help plan where door drop activity should take place. It is also used to target media activity for the Skills for Life campaign.
	Ufi (University for Industry) uses ACORN data in its marketing campaigns to promote learndirect learning.
	No other use of MOSAIC or ACORN has been reported by DIUS or any of its agencies.

Environment: Research

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what steps the Government have taken to encourage UK-based research on environment issues.

David Lammy: The Government provides funding to the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), which in turn funds independent environmental research in the United Kingdom. NERC's funding from DIUS' science and research budget, has risen from £259 million in 2003-04 to £392 million in 2008-09. The increased sum includes support for the major new £1 billion programme living with environmental change, launched on 18 June, involving a wide range of partners, to which NERC and the other research councils are providing £363 million over the current spending review period.. The Department also funds the Higher Education Funding Council for England which provides quality related funding for research, including Environmental research, in English Higher Education Institutes.

Higher Education: Israel

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills 
	(1)  what discussions his Department has had with universities and colleges on their response to the boycott by the University and College Union of Israeli Academics;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the effects on the reputation and attractiveness of British universities to prospective students of a boycott of Israeli academics by the University and College Union.

David Lammy: The UK Government fully support academic freedom and are firmly against any academic boycotts of Israel or Israeli academics.
	Boycotts and any severing of links with Israel would be counterproductive, and completely at odds with the principles of open exchange that should underpin academic life. I profoundly believe ending such links would do nothing to promote the Middle East peace process. Both Israel and the occupied territories contain progressives and reactionaries, and the problem with boycotts or moves to severe links is that they make the job of progressives much more difficult and entrench the position of the reactionaries.
	The UK Government have made their support of international academic links clear. Alongside the Israeli Government, we have actively supported the establishment of the Britain Israel Research and Academic Exchange partnership—BIRAX which aims to strengthen academic links between the UK and Israel through the awarding of grants to support academic exchanges for research purposes. We are exploring options for supporting academics in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

Departmental Alcoholic Drinks

David Simpson: To ask the Prime Minister 
	(1)  what measures are in place in his Office to monitor expenditure on alcohol for hospitality purposes;
	(2)  what purchasing process is used by his Office for the procurement of alcohol for hospitality purposes.

Gordon Brown: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the then Parliamentary Secretary Cabinet Office (Phil Hope) on 1 September 2008,  Official Report, column 1433W.

Departmental Industrial Health and Safety

Philip Davies: To ask the Prime Minister how many incidents have been reported by his Office under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995 since 27 June 2007.

Gordon Brown: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary Cabinet Office (Kevin Brennan) earlier.

Departmental Public Participation

Mark Hoban: To ask the Prime Minister 
	(1)  what  (a) listening exercises and  (b) public forums his Office has held in each of the last two years; what the (i) purpose and (ii) cost was in each case; and who the private contractor was and how much it was paid in each case;
	(2)  what  (a) reviews and  (b) public consultations have been initiated by his Office since 27 June 2007.

Gordon Brown: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary Cabinet Office (Kevin Brennan) earlier.

Departmental Sick Leave

David Simpson: To ask the Prime Minister 
	(1)  how many and what percentage of staff in his Office have had more than two periods of sickness absence of less than five days in each of the last three years;
	(2)  how many staff in 10 Downing street have had five or more periods of sickness absence of less than five days in two or more of the last five years.

Gordon Brown: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary Cabinet Office (Mr. Watson) earlier.

Departmental Television

Jacqui Lait: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar of 24 June 2008,  Official Report, column 238W, on departmental television, what premium satellite channels or packages are subscribed to by his Department for each of the three subscriptions.

James Duddridge: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, pursuant to the answer to the right hon. Member for Horsham of 24 June 2008,  Official Report, column 238W, on departmental television, what the premium channels subscribed to are.

Kevin Brennan: The premium packages the Department subscribes to are Sky Mixes and Sky General.

Alcoholic Drinks: Young People

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions of people aged 10 to 17 years there were for being drunk and disorderly in  (a) the non-metropolitan county of Hampshire,  (b) the Test Valley borough and  (c) Southampton in each year since 1997.

Vernon Coaker: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 10 June 2008,  Official Report, column 188W.
	Statistics for Test Valley and Southampton cannot be provided as data is not collected to this level of detail by the Ministry of Justice.

Antisocial Behaviour Orders: Enforcement

Doug Henderson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps her Department has taken in the last 12 months to monitor the work of local authorities in relation to their enforcement of anti-social behaviour orders.

Vernon Coaker: We collect data on the use of the tools and powers available to practitioners to tackle antisocial behaviour. Data on the number of antisocial behaviour orders (ASBOs) made and breached is provided by the courts to the Home Office. The most recent data was published on 8 May 2008. We also receive data on the use of other tools and powers, such as antisocial behaviour contracts, through the Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership (CDRP) survey.
	We also keep in touch with frontline practitioners through policy development discussion groups, and through regular training events. This helps ensure that practitioners are fully up to speed with the latest practice in using the wide range of ASB tools and powers available to them. This close relationship also means that we can draw upon front line experience and expertise in developing policy.

Anti-social Behaviour Orders: Warley

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for anti-social behaviour orders have been made to Warley magistrates in each of the last three years; how many have been granted; how many of those granted have been breached; and what penalties were imposed for each breach.

Vernon Coaker: Information on the number of ASBOs issued and breached is not compiled below Criminal Justice System (CJS) area level. Data at CJS level is collected centrally on the number of antisocial behaviour orders (ASBOs) made and breached, but not those unsuccessfully applied for.

Crime

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many crimes were reported in each police force area in each of the last 10 years; and what the detection rate in each police force area was in each such year.

Vernon Coaker: holding answer 15 September 2008
	 The information requested is in the following tables.
	
		
			  Table 1: Offences recorded by the police and detection rates, 1998-99 to 2001-02 
			   1998-99  1999- 20 00( 1)  2000-01  2001-02 
			  Police force area  Number of offences  Detection rate (%)  Number of offences  Detection rate (%)  Number of offences  Detection rate (%)  Number of offences  Detection rate (%) 
			 Avon and Somerset 150,089 24 147,104 22 149,254 21 177,196 14 
			 Bedfordshire 49,076 33 53,607 25 49,627 27 52,210 25 
			 British Transport Police n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Cambridgeshire 67,256 29 68,722 25 64,343 24 69,559 22 
			 Cheshire 65,119 37 64,528 31 63,288 30 70,990 26 
			 Cleveland 67,030 23 65,185 22 64,357 21 72,003 20 
			 Cumbria 40,202 44 37,729 39 32,873 34 37,229 32 
			 Derbyshire 84,459 31 85,650 28 81,668 26 89,841 25 
			 Devon and Cornwall 110,644 36 110,361 35 102,853 34 101,425 32 
			 Dorset 52,755 31 52,332 26 50,320 25 54,869 27 
			 Durham 50,413 33 48,796 32 44,702 34 51,478 33 
			 Dyfed-Powys 24,588 69 23,709 65 22,878 63 23,969 64 
			 Essex 95,797 29 102,777 30 106,768 26 113,150 26 
			 Gloucestershire 48,206 31 50,993 31 49,871 32 50,467 30 
			 Greater Manchester 362,450 25 377,086 23 363,454 22 380,801 21 
			 Gwent 58,738 55 60,132 53 56,728 57 46,916 55 
			 Hampshire 128,253 35 135,174 32 133,553 29 135,961 29 
			 Hertfordshire 49,309 34 52,741 27 64,215 24 67,237 24 
			 Humberside 130,691 22 121,442 19 110,312 21 118,039 20 
			 Kent 129,340 34 124,918 33 128,382 28 120,155 28 
			 Lancashire 118,085 34 108,866 29 117,633 27 137,760 26 
			 Leicestershire 93,397 34 94,577 30 86,422 28 88,557 28 
			 Lincolnshire 46,670 40 46,170 28 44,884 25 49,792 27 
			 London, City of 7,144 33 7,775 32 8,255 27 10,093 34 
			 Merseyside 140,874 31 148,172 26 142,807 28 151,041 24 
			 Metropolitan Police 934,254 22 1,052,049 16 994,233 15 1,056,513 14 
			 Norfolk 57,129 37 59,387 30 57,259 26 58,923 25 
			 Northamptonshire 65,466 33 61,240 33 56,731 33 60,458 31 
			 Northumbria 151,298 30 142,279 31 134,777 31 139,130 31 
			 North Wales 43,848 43 44,606 36 47,712 31 53,839 28 
			 North Yorkshire 55,309 33 53,554 31 51,551 30 59,125 26 
			 Nottinghamshire 135,255 25 136,875 21 139,903 20 159,462 18 
			 South Wales 134,820 39 127,040 31 111,131 31 116,708 33 
			 South Yorkshire 133,059 32 131,700 25 125,179 25 134,764 23 
			 Staffordshire 91,919 32 98,852 22 104,705 23 117,027 20 
			 Suffolk 39,908 41 43,355 36 44,317 35 50,492 33 
			 Surrey 42,467 40 46,288 32 63,321 28 61,457 25 
			 Sussex 130,402 25 136,566 25 136,920 23 135,110 25 
			 Thames Valley 176,477 25 191,875 20 187,989 22 196,980 24 
			 Warwickshire 38,485 26 38,593 22 36,963 22 42,211 25 
			 West Mercia 81,782 34 84,797 29 78,363 28 102,257 28 
			 West Midlands 314,628 30 364,887 27 364,879 28 372,257 29 
			 West Yorkshire 273,809 27 260,237 25 258,908 23 298,845 19 
			 Wiltshire 38,189 38 38,461 33 36,555 29 38,728 30 
			  
			 England and Wales 5,109,089 29 5,301,187 25 5,170,843 24 5,525,024 22 
			 n/a = Not available (1) New instructions which clarified the rules for detecting crime were introduced on 1 April 1999.  Notes: 1. The data in this table is prior to the introduction of the National Crime Recording Standard. These figures are not directly comparable with those for later years. 2. It should be noted that non-sanction detections that contribute to the overall detection rate have fallen in recent years reflecting a significant shift by many police forces away from recording detections of crime where no further action is taken. For this reason overall detection rates over time are not fully comparable. From 1 April 2007 the rules governing recording of non-sanction detections were revised to reduce the scope within which they can be claimed to a very limited set of circumstances. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Offences recorded by the police and detection rates, 2002-03 to 2007-08 
			   2002-03  2003-04  2004-05 
			  Police force area  Number of offences  Detection rate (%)  Number of offences  Detection rate (%)  Number of offences  Detection rate (%) 
			 Avon and Somerset 173,866 15 164,943 15 161,210 17 
			 Bedfordshire 60,895 26 62,382 23 57,973 28 
			 British Transport Police 77,264 15 79,182 16 77,889 17 
			 Cambridgeshire 85,029 22 79,960 23 73,659 23 
			 Cheshire 84,574 26 92,223 27 89,300 26 
			 Cleveland 73,816 23 74,579 21 68,967 24 
			 Cumbria 37,595 31 39,539 32 43,300 30 
			 Derbyshire 103,180 26 98,741 25 84,712 28 
			 Devon and Cornwall 131,240 29 131,453 29 133,282 30 
			 Dorset 62,297 25 62,657 26 57,722 28 
			 Durham 51,177 34 48,432 29 47,115 29 
			 Dyfed-Powys 25,104 68 31,105 47 32,409 43 
			 Essex 136,181 27 144,512 28 134,789 27 
			 Gloucestershire 55,775 29 58,097 28 53,333 27 
			 Greater Manchester 379,126 22 367,959 22 324,616 23 
			 Gwent 61,237 48 59,296 45 57,204 42 
			 Hampshire 152,664 30 178,543 27 173,072 28 
			 Hertfordshire 86,396 23 95,117 25 97,065 29 
			 Humberside 132,529 20 141,644 19 124,105 20 
			 Kent 130,597 28 137,313 25 136,440 23 
			 Lancashire 130,507 27 151,834 27 152,043 30 
			 Leicestershire 96,143 27 96,355 22 96,347 25 
			 Lincolnshire 61,949 23 60,377 22 58,349 25 
			 London, City of 10,026 36 9,250 33 8,685 36 
			 Merseystde 163,166 25 169,181 27 170,846 30 
			 Metropolitan Police 1,079,877 14 1,060,927 15 1,015,121 21 
			 Norfolk 71,270 24 69,846 26 66,376 28 
			 Northamptonshire 73,509 28 78,582 28 73,903 29 
			 Northumbria 165,496 31 157,051 30 142,122 29 
			 North Wales 65,067 29 61,749 33 53,849 42 
			 North Yorkshire 67,239 26 71,473 28 61,615 35 
			 Nottinghamshire 161,403 16 159,228 18 143,498 20 
			 South Wales 143,372 29 137,113 29 124,162 29 
			 South Yorkshire 152,057 21 141,794 24 140,371 26 
			 Staffordshire 108,626 31 109,396 33 101,084 35 
			 Suffolk 50,315 34 53,443 33 52,101 32 
			 Surrey 68,452 22 73,252 22 70,851 26 
			 Sussex 130,887 24 134,557 24 140,177 25 
			 Thames Valley 208,523 25 210,256 23 205,273 26 
			 Warwickshire 44,196 26 45,714 25 43,131 27 
			 West Mercia 105,077 33 106,900 31 95,056 34 
			 West Midlands 350,242 26 339,292 25 290,779 23 
			 West Yorkshire 322,794 20 325,556 20 263,534 25 
			 Wiltshire 44,225 28 42,956 28 40,076 29 
			
			 England and Wales 5,974,960 24 6,013,759 23 5,637,511 26 
		
	
	
		
			   2005-06  2006-07  2007-08 
			  Police force area  Number of offences  Detection rate (%)  Number of offences  Detection rate (%)  Number of offences  Detection rate (%) 
			 Avon and Somerset 154,876 23 160,834 24 144,970 25 
			 Bedfordshire 59,493 25 57,289 22 51,327 22 
			 British Transport Police 76,385 20 76,405 24 67,875 27 
			 Cambridgeshire 66,804 27 69,146 25 65,308 27 
			 Cheshire 95,297 27 89,023 27 79,278 26 
			 Cleveland 71,962 30 68,452 31 66,646 33 
			 Cumbria 42,722 35 38,640 36 35,282 38 
			 Derbyshire 81,085 27 81,037 26 77,534 29 
			 Devon and Cornwall 124,533 28 123,851 27 111,260 28 
			 Dorset 58,724 30 55,142 30 51,285 27 
			 Durham 53,123 27 53,173 30 47,839 29 
			 Dyfed-Powys 30,185 45 30,124 45 25,639 42 
			 Essex 132,378 31 127,163 33 119,164 32 
			 Gloucestershire 53,062 32 52,388 33 45,685 32 
			 Greater Manchester 328,237 25 332,554 25 297,966 25 
			 Gwent 53,627 36 53,182 33 48,472 30 
			 Hampshire 175,293 24 180,894 23 164,940 27 
			 Hertfordshire 95,273 26 91,408 29 80,239 30 
			 Humberside 116,104 23 112,771 25 97,034 31 
			 Kent 147,112 26 146,402 26 131,269 27 
			 Lancashire 142,229 32 135,837 35 123,681 35 
			 Leicestershire 91,185 30 93,108 28 88,253 27 
			 Lincolnshire 57,608 26 55,478 28 51,102 28 
			 London, City of 8,432 43 7,973 39 7,572 36 
			 Merseystde 174,989 28 155,208 29 126,934 32 
			 Metropolitan Police 984,125 24 921,779 21 862,032 25 
			 Norfolk 64,902 31 62,626 30 55,686 32 
			 Northamptonshire 68,075 25 65,975 26 63,657 25 
			 Northumbria 131,968 35 129,070 40 109,251 38 
			 North Wales 50,270 43 53,450 48 45,545 40 
			 North Yorkshire 58,850 35 54,526 33 50,265 33 
			 Nottinghamshire 138,289 22 136,531 23 124,880 23 
			 South Wales 123,942 26 121,717 25 123,967 26 
			 South Yorkshire 162,845 27 159,477 26 145,769 27 
			 Staffordshire 104,411 35 104,336 35 89,348 28 
			 Suffolk 52,831 30 51,096 31 48,330 30 
			 Surrey 68,978 25 74,242 30 68,947 27 
			 Sussex 135,690 30 133,147 31 119,393 32 
			 Thames Valley 201,412 28 211,325 25 196,008 25 
			 Warwickshire 43,392 25 45,257 27 39,968 26 
			 West Mercia 85,353 34 82,095 34 80,054 29 
			 West Midlands 288,055 26 278,660 27 248,235 27 
			 West Yorkshire 258,887 28 249,670 29 228,195 24 
			 Wiltshire 42,181 32 45,098 26 44,587 27 
			
			 England and Wales 5,555,174 27 5,427,559 27 4,950,671 28 
			  Notes: 1. The data in this table takes account of the introduction of the National Crime Recording standard In April 2002. These figures are not directly comparable with those for earlier years. 2. It should be noted that non-sanction detections that contribute to the overall detection rate have fallen in recent years reflecting a significant shift by many police forces away from recording detections of crime where no further action is taken. For this reason overall detection rates over time are not fully comparable. From 1 April 2007 the rules governing recording of non-sanction detections were revised to reduce the scope within which they can be claimed to a very limited set of circumstances.

Crime Prevention

Shailesh Vara: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps the Government is taking to prevent crimes involving  (a) internet fraud and  (b) identity theft; and if she will make a statement.

Vernon Coaker: The Government maintain internet fraud prevention advice on a number of websites and also supports the GetSafeOnline website which is a joint Government and industry initiative which provides clear, accessible and up-to-date advice on the easy ways in which the public and small businesses can protect themselves and their PCs while using the internet.
	The Government have recently allocated £29 million in new money to implement the findings of the cross Whitehall review of fraud. A new National Fraud Reporting Centre which will enable the police to draw together comprehensive fraud intelligence will also work with law enforcement to tackle fraud facilitated through the internet.
	The Government are involved in a range of activity to help reduce identity theft and works with organisations in the public and private sector. We have sought to ensure better co-ordination in prosecuting fraudsters through establishing a network of Single Points of Contact in all police forces and a range of Government Departments and agencies dealing with identity fraud investigations and prosecutions.
	We have also strengthened legislation. Offences in the Identity Cards Act 2006 target those who possess and use false identity documents and genuine documents belonging to someone else. More powers to share data to combat fraud were enacted in the Serious Crime Act 2007 and the Disclosure of Death Registration Information Scheme, under the Police and Justice Act 2006, was launched on 16 January 2008.
	We have introduced systems to confirm the validity of UK passports presented to other organisations and interviews for first time passport applicants over 16 years old now take place to verify the identity of individuals.
	A leaflet and the
	www.identitytheft.org.uk
	website help to increase public awareness of the problem. The material advises on how to reduce the risk of becoming a victim of identity fraud, warning signs to look out for, and what someone should do if they do fall victim. Anyone who has had their personal details used fraudulently can contact one of the three credit reference agencies for help in resolving any credit related problems. They offer a free credit repair service and will liaise with each other, and the banks, to repair compromised personal credit records.
	Finally, our plans for a National Identity Scheme will provide people with a highly secure means of protecting their identity and help citizens to prove their identities easily, quickly and with vastly improved security.

Driving Offences: Mobile Phones

Mark Hunter: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much was spent on enforcing the rules regarding driving while using a mobile telephone in each year since 1997.

Vernon Coaker: This information is not collected centrally. Use of resources is an operational matter for individual chief officers of police, it became a specific offence to use a hand-held mobile phone while driving in December 2003.

Driving Offences: Mobile Phones

Mark Hunter: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were arrested for driving whilst using a mobile telephone in each year since 1997.

Vernon Coaker: This information is not collected centrally. Information on court proceedings for the offence of using a hand-held mobile phone while driving and fixed penalties issued for the offence are contained in Motoring Offences and Breath Test Statistics, England and Wales, published annually and in its supplementary tables. The information covers the period from December 2003, when this conduct became a specific offence.

Homicide: Children

James Brokenshire: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many children under the age of 10 were victims of homicide in each of the last 10 years.

Vernon Coaker: Available data relates to homicides recorded by police in England and Wales between 1997-98 and 2006-07, and are shown in the table. Data for 2007-08 are not yet available.
	Latest analysis of homicide statistics for England and Wales was published in 'Homicides, Firearm Offences and Intimate Violence 2006-07' (Home Office Statistical Bulletin 03/08) which can be found online at:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs08/hosb0308.pdf
	The next homicide chapter is scheduled for release in January 2009.
	
		
			  Homicides currently recorded( 1)  where victim aged under 10 years: England and Wales, 1997-98 to 2006-07( 2) 
			  Year offence initially recorded( 3)  Number of homicides 
			 1997-98 61 
			 1998-99 70 
			 1999-2000 56 
			 2000-01 81 
			 2001-02 49 
			 2002-03 73 
			 2003-04 53 
			 2004-05 48 
			 2005-06 38 
			 2006-07 49 
			 (1) As at 12 November 2007; figures are revised as cases are dealt with by the police and by the courts, or as further information becomes available. (2) Data for 2007-08 are scheduled to be published in January 2009. (3) Offences are shown according to the year in which the police initially recorded the offence as homicide. This is not necessarily the year in which the incident took place or the year in which any court decision was made.

Offensive Weapons: Dyfed

Mark Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many knife crimes were recorded in Dyfed-Powys in each of the last five years.

Vernon Coaker: It is not possible to identify those offences that are knife-related from the data centrally collected on overall recorded crime. However, since April 2007, police forces have been providing separate aggregate data on serious violence (attempted murder, GBH and robbery) involving knives and sharp instruments. Dyfed-Powys police recorded 74 such offence during 2007-08.
	Available data from the Homicide Index relate to offences currently recorded as homicide where the apparent method of killing was 'sharp instrument', as at 12 November 2007. The number of such offences recorded by Dyfed-Powys police each year between 2002-03 and 2006-07 are given in the following table. Figures for 2007-08 are scheduled to be published in January 2009.
	
		
			  Offences currently( 1)  recorded as homicide where apparent method of killing is sharp instrument( 2) : Dyfed-Powys police, 2002-03 to 2006-07( 3,4) 
			  Year offence initially recorded( 3)  Number 
			 2002-03 3 
			 2003-04 0 
			 2004-05 0 
			 2005-06 2 
			 2006-07 1 
			 (1) As at 12 November 2007; figures are subject to revision as cases are dealt with by the police and by the courts, or as further information becomes available. (2) Homicides involving any sharp instrument, including knives. (3) Offences are shown according to the year in which the police initially recorded the offence as homicide. This is not necessarily the year in which the incident took place or the year in which any court decision was made. (4) Data for 2007-08 are not yet published.

Security: Licensed Premises

James Brokenshire: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether requirements are imposed on door staff of licensed premises to undertake continuing training after they have obtained a Security Industry Authority licence.

Vernon Coaker: The Security Industry Authority (SIA) has not to date specified competency requirements for second and subsequent licence applications after an individual has provided evidence of competency when applying for his or her first licence under the Private Security Industry Act 2001. However, the SIA anticipate proposing the introduction of a requirement for licence holders, including door supervisors, to provide evidence that they have kept their competency up to date, when applying for licence renewal. Such a proposal would require an assessment of the costs and benefits involved.

Ethiopia: Water

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what bodies received funding from the £75 million allocated to support the Ethiopian government water sanitation and hygiene programme.

Douglas Alexander: The Department for International Development's (DFID) water and sanitation programme in Ethiopia is administered through a World Bank trust fund. Project funds are channelled through the Government of Ethiopia's federal Ministry of Finance and Economic Development, and spent by local government at regional and district levels. These funds are spent directly to provide water and sanitation services at community level. In 2008, £9 million has so far been provided to build around 1000 rural water schemes (such as protected springs and hand dug wells) and eight small town schemes (piped water systems), benefiting approximately 500,000 people. Overall, DFID's £75 million will pay for water and sanitation for 3.2 million people.

Overseas Aid: Standards

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to the answer of 20 June 2008,  Official Report, columns 1271-2W, on overseas aid: standards, how the transparency of donors' actions will be measured as part of the harmonisation principle.

Douglas Alexander: The OECD's Development Assistance Committee measures donors' commitments on harmonisation in the Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness through achievement of three targets: 66 per cent. of aid flows through programme based approaches, 40 per cent. of missions to the field conducted jointly with other donors, and 66 per cent. of analytical work conducted jointly.
	At the Third High Level Forum (HLF3) on Aid Effectiveness held in Ghana from 2-4 September, the UK played a key role in getting international agreement to speed up implementation of the Paris Declaration. The Accra Agenda for Action commits donors to
	"publicly disclose regular, detailed and timely information on volume, allocation and, when available, results of development expenditure to enable more accurate budget, accounting and audit by developing countries".
	The implementation of this commitment will be monitored by the OECD-DAC and reviewed at the next High Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness in 2011.
	Also at the HLF, 14 donors, including UNDP, World Bank, EC, Germany and the Netherlands, signed up to a new UK-led 'International Aid Transparency Initiative (IATI)'. This will enable donors to implement and go beyond the commitment made in the Accra Agenda for Action and ensure that information on aid flows is available to everyone. Donors will work together to agree, before the end of 2009 an accessible common format for the publication of information about aid. The initiative will help citizens hold donors and governments to account for their promises and enable partner governments and their citizens—those who ultimately benefit from aid—to plan for and make the best use of aid.

Overseas Aid: Standards

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to the answer of 20 June 2008,  Official Report, columns 1272-3W, on overseas aid: standards, what steps donors and partners are taking to achieve the priorities for improvement referred to in the answer in order to meet 2010 targets.

Douglas Alexander: At the Third High Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness, held in Accra, Ghana from 2-4 September 2008, strong UK leadership helped to secure an ambitious 'Accra Agenda for Action' which will speed up implementation of the Paris Declaration.
	Donors and developing countries commitments include:
	A step change in donor's use of partner government systems to deliver aid, with a new target to channel 50 per cent. of government-to-government aid through country systems, thus improving alignment;
	Strengthening of national, and for the first time international, mutual accountability mechanisms, allowing donors and partner countries to better hold each other accountable for meeting their commitments, with a milestone agreed for 2009;
	Donors agreed to respect and support partner country-led efforts to agree a better division of labour between donors at country level—and for the first time at international level too; we agreed to start dialogue on international division of labour by June 2009. This will reduce transaction costs for partner countries and help address the issue of under-aided countries;
	For the first time and beginning now, donors will provide partner governments with forward expenditure or implementation plans for the following three to five years, allowing partner countries to integrate the information in their medium-term planning and macroeconomic frameworks. This will help developing countries plan to use aid to implement their own priorities, e.g. recruiting nurses and teachers; and
	Partner countries will improve their information systems, with support from donors to develop national statistical capacity. The UK announced £50 million support for a new multi-donor Statistics for Results Facility. Donors will use these systems to manage development results.
	These steps will help achieve the targets set for 2010.

Renewable Energy

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent discussions he has had with the Carbon Trust; and how much expenditure has been set aside for the introduction and operation of renewable technologies in his Department's UK offices.

Douglas Alexander: The Department for International Development (DFID) has had various discussions with the Carbon Trust, and through them have commissioned building surveys of both our UK offices, at 1 Palace Street in London, and Abercrombie House in East Kilbride. While these surveys found that the buildings were inherently energy efficient, they also identified technologies which merited further investigation. Further work has been carried out through the Carbon Trust to assess the feasibility of these, such as a wind turbine and a Biomass boiler at Abercrombie House, and a Tri-generation plant at 1 Palace Street.
	Earlier this year DFID invested in voltage modulation equipment which has reduced the electricity consumption at 1 Palace Street by around 15 per cent.. The level of capital funding for the next 3&frac12; years is still being considered.

Southern Africa: Infrastructure

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to the answer of 19 June 2008,  Official Report, columns 1177-8W, how the US$5 billion of private investment will be distributed.

Gareth Thomas: The more than US$ 5 billion private sector investment which has been mobilised in relation to the Emerging Africa Infrastructure Fund (EAIF) is helping to improve telecommunications, energy, transport, industrial and other infrastructure in African countries such as Cameroon, Ethiopia, Mozambique, Nigeria and Uganda. A detailed breakdown of the US$ 5.5 billion private sector investments together with EAIF finance is given in the attached table (Annex 1).
	
		
			  Annex 1: EAIF Active and Completed projects as of June 2008 
			  ($ million) 
			  Project  EAIF  Year  Country  Sector  Comments  PSI Committed ($m) 
			 Celtel (MSI Expansion) 30.00 2003 Sub-Saharan Africa Telecoms Total US$190m syndicated loan fully disbursed. Now repaid on refinancing. 160.0 
			 MTN Nigeria 10.00 2003 Nigeria Telecoms US $5m drawn. Now repaid on refinancing 200.0 
			 AES-Sonel 35.50 2003 (EAIF $32.3m) 2006 (EAIF $2.3m) Cameroon Energy/Power EAIF loan disbursed - $32.3m in 2003, $2.3m in 2006. GPOBA approved eligibility commitment awaited 554.0 
			 Moma Mineral Sands 36.50 2003 ($24.5m) 2007 ($12m) Mozambique Mining Disbursing 477.0 
			 BidCo Palm Oil/KIS Renewables 22.00 2006 Uganda Agribusiness Approved Nov 2006. Loan not ye signed  
			 Tema Port Mooring Buoy 12.00 2005 Ghana Transport US£ 36m facility. US$ 9.4m Drawn 58.0 
			 Obajana Cement Plant 30.00 2005 Nigeria Industrial Disbursed as part of US500m syndicated loan 829.0 
			 ElemePetrochem 20.00 2007 Nigeria Industrial EAIF loan disbursed Feb.2007 400.0 
			 Ethiopian Airlines 36.00 2006 Ethiopia Transport Approved by the Board. Awaiting disbursement 474.0 
			 CelTel Nigeria 35.00 2007 Nigeria Telecoms Disbursed Feb.2007 1,327.0 
			 Celtel Africa 24.00  Africa Regional Telecoms Commenced disbursing Sept 2007 590.0 
			 DRC (8.0)  DRC Telecoms   
			 Malawi (1.0)  Malawi Telecoms   
			 Madagascar (2.0)  Madagascar Telecoms   
			 Sierra Leone (9.0)  Sierra Leone Telecoms   
			 Uganda (4.0)  Uganda Telecoms   
			 Mnazi Bay Power (Mtwara Power) 17.50 2007 Tanzania Energy/Power Approved April 200. Not yet signed  
			 MagEnergy 12.00 2007 (TAF EAIF) DRC Energy/Power Loan Approved 48.7 
			 Seacom 35.00 2007 Africa Regional Telecoms Signed Dec.2007 385.0 
			 Safal Africa 29.00 2007 Africa Regional Industrial Signed March 2008 (not yet available) 
			 Bugoye Hydro Power Plant 35.00 2008 Uganda Energy/Power Loan Approved 55.7 
			 Total 419.50 5,558.40

General Certificate of Secondary Education

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families in how many maintained mainstream schools over 75 per cent. of pupils obtained fewer than five GCSEs including English and mathematics at grades A to C in the last year for which figures are available.

Jim Knight: holding answer 6 October 2008
	I refer the hon. Member to the answer to PQ 180463 (28 January 2008,  Official Report, column 162W).
	The latest year for which figures are available is 2006/07. Provisional figures for 2007/08 will be available in mid-October.

Housing: Valuation

Jacqui Lait: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Bromley and Chislehurst of 18 June 2008,  Official Report, column 988W, on housing: valuation, if he will place in the Library  (a) a hard copy and  (b) electronic copies of the maps and boundaries of each locality.

Stephen Timms: The information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Northern Rock: Nationalisation

Frank Field: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the cost to the public purse of nationalising Northern Rock has been to date.

Stephen Timms: Financial information related to Northern Rock is given in the HM-Treasury's resource accounts 2007-08, published on 16 July 2008. This is available at the Treasury website:
	http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/media/4/B/annualreportandaccounts200708050808.pdf

Powers of Entry

Eric Pickles: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what powers of entry are exercisable by representatives of  (a) the Valuation Office Agency and  (b) HM Revenue and Customs under (i) primary and (ii) secondary legislation.

Stephen Timms: Powers exercisable by  (a) the Valuation Office Agency are contained in primary legislation. For council tax these are contained in section 26 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992. They do not extend to forcible entry. For other functions of the Valuation Office Agency I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Meriden (Mrs. Spelman) on 6 February 2006,  Official Report, column 1037W.
	Powers exercisable by  (b) HM Revenue and Customs (of which VOA is an agency) are contained in primary and secondary legislation. HMRC has a wide range of responsibilities across a number of functions ranging from administration of tax and duties, enforcement of prohibitions and restrictions through to criminal offences. Within HMRC powers of entry are only used within the limits of a particular function and when it is proportionate and reasonable to do so. The main powers exercisable by HMRC (other than those listed elsewhere as exercisable by the VOA) are shown in the following table.
	The Home Office is leading a review of powers of entry across all Government Departments and in which HMRC is engaged. The latest findings can be found at
	www.police.homeoffice.gov.uk/operational-policing/powers-pace-codes/powers-of-entrv-review/.
	
		
			  List of the main powers of entry exercisable by HMRC (other than those listed elsewhere as exercisable by the VOA) 
			  Statute  Reference 
			 Alcohol Liquor Duties Act 1979 Section 79 
			 Betting and Gaming Duties Act 1981 Schedule 1 
			 Customs and Excise Management Act 1979 Part III—sections S.20(A); 25A and 33; 
			  Part VIIIA—section 100F; 
			  Part IX—sections 112 and 113; 
			  Part IXA—section 118C; 
			  Part XII—sections 161; 161A and 162. 
			 Finance Act 1994 Part 1—section 24; schedule 7, paragraph 4 
			 Finance Act 1996 Schedule 5, paragraph 4 
			 Finance Act 2000 Part XII Schedule 6, paragraph 129 
			 Finance Act 2001 Schedule 7, paragraph 6 
			 Finance Act 2008 Schedule 36, paragraph 10 
			 Inheritance Act 1984 Part VIII—section 20 
			 Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 Part II—sections 8; 7; 18 and 32—schedule 1 and section 9 
			 Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 Part II—section 51 
			 Stamp Act 1981 Part 1 Regulations—section 16 
			 Taxes Management Act 1970 Sections 61; 110 and 111 
			 Value Added Tax Act 1994 Schedule 58 and schedule 11 paragraph 10 
			 Hydrocarbon Oil Duties Act 1979 Regulations made under section 17 
			 Hydrocarbon Oil Regulations 1973 (from Hydrocarbon Oil Duties Act 1979) Regulation 47 
			 Hydrocarbon Oil Duties (Reliefs for Electricity Generation) Regulations 2005" Regulations 10 and 13

Revenue and Customs: Buildings

Stephen Crabb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent discussions he has had on  (a) the future of the Mapeley STEPS Ltd estate and  (b) the reorganisation of HM Revenue and Customs offices.

Stephen Timms: The Minister responsible for HM Revenue and Customs, has frequent discussions on these issues, and many other departmental issues and keeps the Chancellor of the Exchequer informed on a regular basis.

Revenue and Customs: Correspondence

Philip Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his latest estimate is of the number of letters received by each HM Revenue and Customs office where processing has not yet been concluded.

Stephen Timms: holding answer 17 September 2008
	 HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has received over 25 million items of post (letters and forms) from customers in the last 12 months.
	As at end of August 2008, HMRC estimates that there were approximately 1.2 million items of post due to be processed, which represents approximately two weeks worth of post received.
	This is within HMRC's normal expectation for this time of year and reflects the fact that volumes of work outstanding are affected by seasonal demands.
	This information is not held by individual HMRC office.

Revenue and Customs: Southend-on-Sea

David Amess: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what representations he has received since January 2008 from Southend-on-Sea Borough Council on staffing levels in HM Revenue and Customs offices in Southend; what plans he has to meet representatives from the council to discuss this issue; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  if he will place in the Library a copy of the representations received from  (a) Southend-on-Sea Borough Council and  (b) the Public and Commercial Services Union on the closure of HM Revenue and Customs offices in Southend; what responses he gave in each case; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answers the former Financial Secretary (Jane Kennedy) gave on 16 June 2008,  Official Report, columns 692-93. I have no current plans to meet representatives from Southend council.

Stamp Duties: Tax Avoidance

Vincent Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the loss of revenue to the Exchequer from stamp duty tax avoidance through the use of offshore trusts in the last period for which figures are available.

Stephen Timms: I refer the hon. Gentlemen to the answer the former Economic Secretary to the Treasury (Ed Balls) gave him on 16 April 2007,  Official Report, column 415W.

Tax Evasion: Lancashire

Ben Wallace: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  how many arrests have been made as part of investigations into  (a) VAT fraud,  (b) smuggling,  (c) duty avoidance and  (d) large-scale tax avoidance in Lancashire in each year since 2000;
	(2)  how many arrests were made by customs officers in Lancashire in each year since 2000.

Stephen Timms: High-level data on arrest statistics are published in HM Revenue and Customs' Annual Reports. Copies of the Annual Reports are available in the Library of the House and onlinewww.hmrc.gov.uk The specific information requested could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Taxis

Philip Davies: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much  (a) his Department and  (b) it's agencies spent on taxis in the last financial year for which figures are available.

Stephen Timms: Spending on taxis in 2007-08 was as follows:
	
		
			  £ 
			 HM Treasury 217,000 
			 Debt Management Office 1,000

Valuation Office: Databases

Jacqui Lait: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar of 24 June 2008,  Official Report, columns 258-9W, on the Valuation Office: databases, whether the databases being aligned include the Valuation Office Agency's  (a) geographic information system,  (b) automated valuation model and  (c) council tax banding tool.

Stephen Timms: None of the three applications mentioned in the question are databases; however, they will all benefit from the database alignment exercise.

Iraq

Graham Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to facilitate the relocation to places of safety of Iraqi citizens who have assisted British forces.

Bill Rammell: We continue to work with our Whitehall partners in Ministry of Defence, Department for International Development, UK Borders Agency and our missions in Iraq, Jordan and Syria to ensure that these brave Iraqis who meet the qualifying criteria for the Iraqi LE Staff Assistance Scheme as set out in my written statement to the House on 30 October 2007 are moved to safety as quickly as possible.

Departmental Manpower

James Duddridge: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer to the right hon. Member for Horsham of 3 July 2008,  Official Report, column 1039W, on departmental manpower, what records his Department's human resources department holds of the number of  (a) permanent staff without fixed posts or  (b) staff classified as priority movers.

Kevan Jones: Civilian staff who are in posts that are due to be cut, or are awaiting a posting (e.g. on return from overseas or a career break), are placed in the Redeployment Pool six months before the post ends, and remain the responsibility of their existing line management until they find a new job. They are permanent staff who are deployed locally to temporary work within their current business areas until they secure a more permanent position. About 830 civilian staff are currently classified by the Department's HR Management System as members of the Redeployment pool, in which they receive priority consideration for posting.